Harold "Bud" Berry

Harold "Bud" Berry entered into eternal rest Monday, October 26, at his home in Palm Coast, Florida. Bud was born May 3, 1937 at home in Belpre, Ohio. His mother was Dorothy Abbott Berry and father Okey Durward Berry.

Bud worked and moved around the east coast with Kmart Corporation. His last station with Kmart was the now closed East Six Forks road location. He retired after 37 years with the organization. He always said "I worked for Kmart while retail was still fun". He loved his job but was ready to fulfill his retirement dreams in 1997. He was also well known around Raleigh as a member of the country music band Southern Comfort. A lifelong dream was to own a large sailboat. He bought a 42 foot Endeavour sailboat named Island Time. He and his first mate and future wife, Diana, put many nautical miles under the keel of Island Time. It was the time of their lives. He and Diana married in 1999. In 2008, years after he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he decided it was time to find Island Time a new home and move on.

In retirement Bud also rekindled his love of painting. He painted many portraits of Florida landscapes, self portrait and portraits of friends and his wife. He spent many hours in his studio and loved it.

Bud accepted his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease with a grace and "don't feel sorry for me" unique attitude special to him. His only regret was that he had to give up Island Time.. In the last few years of his life, he and Diana trained his service dog Gia with the help of My Angel with Paws in Deland, Florida. Gia was a bright spot in his life. She gave him purpose and along the way helped him like no human could. As well as the many tasks she could do for him like getting the phone, turning on lights and picking up things he dropped, she was a stable, living force in the Berry Pack. She mourns with all of us.

Bud is predeceased by his parents, Okey and Dorothy Berry, sister Lois, brother Maurice and son Mark. Surviving are his wife Diana, son David Berry, daughters Vicki and Jacki Berry, son in law Mike Cook, one grandson and one great grandson and of course his beloved service dog Gia.

Service will be held November 7, 2015 at 11 AM at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams St. Apex, NC 27502.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the 501(c)3 non-profit service dog organization My Angel with Paws, 3098 Marsh Rd, Deland, Florida 32724.